PSGH President submitting a copy of the PSGH congratulatory message to the Health Minister Designate

The leadership of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH), led by its President, Pharm. Dr. Samuel Kow Donkoh, has paid a courtesy call on the Minister for Health-designate and Member of Parliament for Juaboso Constituency, Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh. Also present with the Minister-designate was Hon. Charles Akwesi Agbeve the Member of Parliament for the Agotime-Ziope Constituency in the Volta Region

The delegation of the PSGH included the Executive Secretary, Pharm. Dr. Dennis Sena Awitty; the Deputy Executive Secretary, Pharm. Dr. Harry Amoaning Okyere; and Pharm. Daniel Marfo of Rx Health Info-Systems.

Purpose of the Visit

The visit aimed to congratulate Hon. Akandoh on his nomination as the Minister for Health and to pledge PSGH’s support for him ahead of his vetting. Prior to this meeting, PSGH had issued a media release congratulating the Minister-designate, and during the visit, the leadership presented him with a copy of the congratulatory message.

Issues of Interest

The PSGH delegation used the opportunity to engage Hon. Akandoh on pressing challenges facing the pharmacy sector. Among the key issues discussed were delays in paying allowances to pharmacy house officers, a situation that continues to affect morale and professional growth. The delegation also raised concerns about the shortage of pharmacists in government healthcare facilities, a problem compounded by a lack of recruitment over the past five years.

Another critical issue highlighted was the lack of adequate support for pharmacists to pursue specialization at the Ghana College of Pharmacists, an institution vital for advancing the profession.

The PSGH raised serious concerns about the Ghana College of Pharmacists being forced to vacate its premises due to allegations that the government land and property they occupy has been taken over by a private developer. The Society strongly emphasized the urgency of the situation and called on the Minister-designate to intervene immediately to safeguard this critical national asset and ensure that the College is not deprived of its  facilities, which are vital for advancing pharmacy education and specialization in Ghana.

The discussion also touched on the potential of the “Community Pharmacy First” concept to strengthen primary healthcare and advance universal health coverage. PSGH underscored the need to integrate community pharmacies into Ghana’s primary healthcare framework to ease the burden on secondary and tertiary facilities. The delegation further advocated for enhanced support for local pharmaceutical manufacturers, including small-scale producers and vaccine manufacturers. They proposed public-private partnerships (PPP) to foster contract manufacturing, which could bolster the pharmaceutical industry’s contribution to national healthcare delivery.

The Minister designates response

Hon. Akandoh expressed gratitude for the visit and commended PSGH for their proactive engagement. He noted that many of the proposals aligned with the President’s vision and the NDC manifesto and expressed his commitment to addressing the issues raised. He welcomed the opportunity for continued collaboration, emphasizing the importance of stakeholder engagement in achieving sustainable improvements in the health sector.

The PSGH leadership assured the Minister-designate of their readiness to work with the Ministry of Health and other stakeholders to address challenges within the sector. They reaffirmed their commitment to advocating for policies and strategies that strengthen pharmacy practice and improve healthcare delivery in Ghana.